Labeling machine



Sept. 19, 1933. J. c. THOM 1,927,473

LABELING MACHINE R; Filed Nov. 14, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. J 55 C. THO/4 A TTORNEY Sept. 19, 1933.

J. C. THOM LABELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. JAMEJG 7H0M A TTORNEY Sept. 19, 1933. J. c. THOM 1,927,473

LABELING MACHINE Filed NOV. 14, 19 32 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q IN VEN TOR. 1 O Jy uss 6. 77/0M.

Patented Sept. 19, 1933 1,927,473 LABELING MACHINE James C. Ihoin, Chicago, Ill.', assignor to United States Tobacco Company, Nashville, Tenn., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 14, 1932 Serial N0. 642,628

19 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in labellng machines, and particularly to mechanism for selecting and feeding the labels to the applying mechanism.

In Patent No. 1,433,909, granted on October 31, 1922, there is shown a labeling machine. including means for selecting and feeding labels to conveying belts, which convey the labels arranged thereon in groups to apparatus for applying the labels to'containers. In. the said patent, the label feeding means comprises a magazine having a plurality of spaced walls forming elongated pockets in which the labels are placed in stacks and from which the labels are removed by a reciprocable, picker movable to and from the magazine, and a horizontally'reciprocable transfer mechanism movable to and from the picker to deliver the labels to the belts. The present invention relates particularly to means for selecting the labels from a supply magazine and delivering them onto belts or conveyors similar to those disclosed in said patent. In other words, the present invention is directed to label selecting and feeding mechanism susceptible to use in connection with a labeling. machine of the character disclosed in the said patent.

The objects of the present invention include the provision of a reciprocatingrotatable picker movable in opposite directions relative to a fixed label containing magazine and operable during its travel in one direction to select a predetermined number of labels from the magazine and operable during its movementin the reverse direction to deposit the labels in spaced relation in groups on the conveying belts for delivery to the labeling mechanism, the picker always rotating in the same direction during its travel in both'directions relative to the belts and magazine.

,Preferably, the picker consists of a cylinder having formed or secured ona portion of its circumference, a plurality of upstanding, rib-like members with openings in their surface communieating at predetermined intervals during rota tion of the cylinder with pneumatic mechanism, whereby the labels are held ,on the cylinder, one on each rib, by suction, and whereinthe suction is broken at predetermined intervals during the rotation of the cylinder to release and effect deposit of the labels on the belts;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter referred to and pointed out- Fig.1 is a side elevation of, apparatus embody ing the invention shown in conjunction with portions of a labeling machine;

Fig. 2 is a view on the line 22 of Fig. ,4;

Fig. 3 is afragmentary view similar to Fig.2 showing the label selecting and depositing mechanismin depositing position; v

Fig. 41s a sectional view taken on the line 4-4r of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5iis a perspective View of the means for eiiecting rotation of the label picker in the same direction during both of its reciprocating movements'.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 6 designates the base of the apparatus on which are the uprights 7 having a, platform 8 acrosstheir tops to support the label picker and depositing mechanism hereinafter, described in detail. Adjacent the end of the base 6, there is also mounted a frame B-supporting the wheel or pulley 10, over which belts 11 move, there being also two pulleys 12 and 13 supported or jour-. naled on standards 14 andover which the central belt moves, the outer belts continuing on be-.

yond the pulleys 12 and 13 to a pulley, not shown,

but similar to the pulley 10, so that the labels which are deposited on the belts'will be. conveyed,

by the two outermost belts to the labeling mechanism proper, such .as shown and described in Patent No. 1,433,999. The belts are adhesively coated on their faces which. receive the labels by the roller 15 which contacts the roller 16. mounted in a tank 17 containing the adhesive solution in which the roller 16 is immersed. The belts are yieldingly pressed into engagement with the roller 15 as theypass thereacross by the roller 18 supported in the yielding bracket 19 on the support 20. The arrangement is similar to that disclosed in Patent No. 1,433,909, and I believe needs no further detailed description.

The pulley 10 is rotated by means of sprocket chains 21 which are trained. over sprockets 22, keyed to the shaft 23 on which the pulley 10 is. mounted. A sprocket wheel 24 is also connected. to a gear, not shown in detail, but designated by the numeral 24 and similar to that disclosed in PatentNo. 1,433,909, the gear 24' meshing with and being rotated by a gear carried on' the shaft 23, the gearbeing shown diagrammatically and designated by the numeral 25. Al sprocket chain 26 is trained overthe wheel .24and a sprocket wheel attached to the roller 15 to rotate the latten Thus, it will be seen; that the endless belts-11 in their motion about the pulleys over which they run have lower and upper flights,

and that the outer surface of the belts receives an adhesive coating when the lower flight passes over the roller 15, and the upper flights of the belts pass under the label picker or selecting and depositing drum designated generally by the numeral 2'7 in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 4, there are three of the belts arranged in parallel relation, and as mentioned above, the middle belt passes over the pulleys l2 and 15. This arrangement permits the disappearance of the central belt between the point where the labels are applied to the three belts by the drum 2'7 and the apparatus not shown in this application for applying the labels to the containers. The features thus far explained, excepting the label selecting and depositing mechanism, will be found described and shown. in Patent No. 1,433,909.

The mechanism for applying the labels to the belts 11 includes, as hereinbefore mentioned, a cylinder or drum designated generally by the numeral 2'7, the structure and operation of which will be presently described.

Still referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted that on the supporting frame 9, there is mounted a frame 28 in the nature of substantially upright standards supporting a bearing or trunnion 29, on which wheels 30 are rotated by a sprocket wheel 31, over which, and sprocket 33, is trained the chain 32. The sprocket wheel 33 is driven by gear 44 meshing with a gear 45 which is keyed to the shaft 46 rotated from a source of power, not shown. This mechanism drives the cylinder 2'7 through connections and in a manner hereinafter described. I

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, there is mounted on the plate 8 above the standards '7, spaced frames 50, each provided with alined slots 51, to the edges of which are applied bushings 52. A shaft 53 extends between and through the slots 51. This shaft 53 is keyed to the cylinder 2'7 as indicated at 55, Figs. 2-4. Between the tops of the frames is mounted a magazine 56 which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is divided into a plurality'of compartments 57 adapted to receive the labels. At the lower end of each compartment.

are plates 58 which restrict the opening at the bottom of each compartment to slightly less than the outer dimensions of the labels, whereby the labels will be supported within the compartments with a substantial area of the lowermost label exposed at the lower ends of the compartments. The side plates 59 of the label magazine 56 are spaced apart a distance substantially equivalent to the length of the labels, and the length of the cylinder or drum 2'7 is approximately the same as the distance between the confronting edges of the end plates 58 as shown in Fig. 4. The cylinder or drum 27 has formed thereacross. upstanding ribs 60, which, in the instant shown, are twelve in number corresponding to the twelve compartments 5'7, and eachrib is of a width less than the distance between confronting side edges of the plates 58. The drum is provided with a central web 61 in which are provided spaced passages 62,

each communicating at one end with a chamber 7 63 beneath the ribs 60, and at their other ends the passages 62 open out through the side of the web 61. Each of the ribs has openings 64 communicating with the chamber 63. At the side of the web 61 on which the passages 62 open, there is mounted an annular plate 65 which has formed therein, an arcuate passage 66 communicating with an opening 6'7 adapted to be connected with suction apparatus, not shown, whereby the openings 64 may'serve as suction ports as hereinafter explained. The hub 68 on the cylinder or drum 27 extends into a flange 69 on the plate 65 and is rotatable therein, the plate 65 being held against rotation through its connection by bolts 70, (Fig. 2) which engage through the upstanding arcuate cradle '71 on plate '72, one end of which is mounted in groove '73 in the front frame 50. Intermediate said end of the plate and member '71 there is provided on plate '72 another upright member '74 through which the shaft 53 extends. Pins or rods '75 extend into member '74 and end of flange 69 at spaced points around shaft 53, and each is surrounded by a coil spring '76 to urge t e member 65 against web 61. The cylinder 2'7 is maintained in proper position beneath the magazine 56 by the annular member 65 on one side, and pulley '7'7 keyed on shaft 53 at the opposite end of hub 68, and adjacent the upstanding portion '78 on plate '72, similar to plate 72 and slidable in groove '73. In order to prevent the drum 2'] from throwing or rotating more than is required at the end of its forward and backward travel a belt,

'77 may be adjustably anchored to the plate '72 and disposed in the pulley '77 across its top. By means of this belt friction may be applied against the pulley 7'7 sufficient to prevent any desired.

throw or rotation of the cylinder 2'7 due to inertia.

The mechanism for sliding and rotating the cylinder 2'7 comprises gear wheels, one on each side of the apparatus just described, and which rotate respectively in opposite directions during sliding movement of the shaft 53 in the slot 51, and which, when the direction of sliding movement is reversed, also change respectively their directions of rotation. Each of these gear wheels carries a spring urged clutch, and cam wheels are keyed to the shaft 53 adjacent the clutches on each side of the apparatus, and each cam wheel rotates in the same direction. Before describing this mechanism for rotating the cylinder always in a constant direction regardless of the direction of its reciprocating movement with the shaft 53, I would call attention to Fig. 1 and revert to the wheels 30 driven by the sprocket chain 32. Each of the wheels 30 has a stud around which is mounted sleeve 81 on the coupling 82 connected to the rods 83. The other end of the rods also have couplings 84 and sleeves 85 mounted around the shaft 53. This constitutes a crank mechanism, which, when the wheels 30 rotate, reciprocate the shaft and the plates 72, '72, members '74 and '78, cylinder 27,.and parts '71, 69 and '74, back and forth as the shaft moves along the slots 51. The sleeves 85 are maintained on the shaft 53 by discs 86 applied to the ends of the shaft and locked thereon by pins or keys 87.

As previously mentioned, the apparatus for selecting and applying the labels to the belts also includes gear wheels, clutches and cam wheels associated with the shaft. The gear wheels are designated by the numerals 88 and 88, the same not being keyed to the shaft but each having a rack meshing therewith, the gear wheel 88 meshing with the rack 89 located therebelow, and the wheel 88' meshing with the rack 89 thereabove and on opposite sides of the supporting frames 50. When the crank mechanism driven by the wheel 30 and rod 83 moves the shaft either to the left or to the right in the slots 51, the gear wheels rotate in opposite directions. For instance, and referring to Fig. 1, assuming that the gear wheel 88 is moving to the left, it will be rotating in a contra-clockwise direction, the rotation being imparted by the meshing of its teeth with those on the rack 89, and the gear wheel 88 will be rotat- Now, referring to Fig. 3 it will benoted that the ing at'tne same time in a clockwise direction. Now, when the crank mechanism passes the point in its rotation which exerts a pull instead of a push on the rods 83, the shaft 53 will be pulled to the right of the position in Fig. 1, and then the gear wheel 88 will rotate in a clockwise direction and the gear wheel 88 will rotate in a contra-clockwise direction. In order to impart rotation to the shaft 53, I provide adjacent each of the gear wheels 88 and keyed on to the shaft, cam wheels 90 and 90', each having a shoulder 91 for engagement with a clutch or dog 92 pivotally connected at 93 'to-a'disc 94 rigidly connected to the gear wheels 88 and 88' for rotation therewith. These clutches or dogs 92 are normally urged toward and against the cam wheels by springs 95 which are connected to discs 94 in any suitable manner, in the instance shown there being an extension 96 on the discs to which the springs are connected.

Explaining the operation of the gear wheels, clutches and cam wheels, and bearing in mind the description above given of the relative rotation of the gear wheels, it will be seen that with the gear wheel 88 rotating in a contra-clockwise direction and travelling to the left of the position shown in Fig. 1, the clutch or dog 92 is against the shoulder 91 and is rotating the cam wheel 90 in a contra-clockwise direction, and thus rotating the shaft 53 and the cam wheel 95 in the same contra-clockwise direction. Therefore, during the travel of the shaft 53 from the right hand end of the slot 51 to the left handend of the the right of the position shown in Fig. 1, the'cam wheel 90" is driving the shaft 53, and due'to the fact that the gear wheel 88 is rotating in a contra-clockwise direction-in its travel from the left to the right, the shaft 531s still being driven in the same direction as when the cam wheel 90 was driving. Thus, with a reciprocating or sliding movement of the shaft 53, the shaft is partments 57, that as the rotating cylinder passes beneath the magazine 56, see Fig. 2, the ribs 60 will one by one and successively enter the lower endsof the compartments 5'7 and contact the stack of labels therein. In the instance shown, the labels are picked from the magazine during the travel of the shaft to the right. When the last rib has entered the last compartment and passed therefrom, each of the ribs holds on its face a label; This is. due to the suction apparatus for the plate having the arcuate chamber 66 is so. arrangedrelative to the passages 62 that as the cylinder rotates and thefirst rib enters the first compartment, its passage 62 is established in communication with the passage 1 66 and suction is'applied. -Successively the passages 62 for the other ribs'come into registry with the, passage 66 and hold the respective labelson the respectiveribsir shaft 53 is moving to the left or hasreversed its direction of silding movement, due to the operation of the crank mechanism. It will also be noted in Fig. 3 that just before each of the ribs approaches the belts 11, its passage 62 passes the end of the chamber 66 so that as the ribs successively bring the labels down against the belts, suction is broken because each passage 62 passes beyond the passage. 66 and in registry with the solid surface of the member 65. Bearing in mind that-the upper faces of the belts 11 have been coatedwith an adhesive, it will be readily seen that with the suction broken, each of the ribs 60 successively deposits its label on the belts in spaced relation and the cylinder continues to rotate to pick up another group of labels. The group just deposited is carried on by the belts while another group is being selected.

In order to facilitate application of the labels to the. belts, I may provide a yielding support or frame over which the belts pass beneath the cylinder. In Fig. 1, the gear 44, or the shaft to which it is attached, is illustrated as being connected with a sprocket wheel 100 and a sprocket chain 101 is trained around the sprocket wheel 100 and another sprocket wheel 102. The latteroperates cams 103, Figs. 2 and 3, beneath the plate 104. Plate 104 is' connected by screws 105 and nuts 10 6 with a plate 107, and the plate 104- normallyrests on the tops of the nuts 106. Coil springs 108 are interposed between the plates 104 and 107- and around the shanks of the screws 105.- As shown in Fig. 2 when the labels have been delivered on to the belt and a new .group of labels is being selected, the cam wheels 103 have their smaller radius contactingthe plate 104 so that the plate rests on the screws 106. However, and as shown in Fig. 3, when the labels are being applied to the belts, the larger radius of the cam Wheels 103 are contacting the plate 104 and raise the plate off of a the nuts 106 to'compress the spring 108 and urge the plate 107 and belts riding thereover resiliently against the ribs 60 thus giving a firm contact and a slight pressure between the belts and ribs and labels interposed therebetween.

It is believed that the foregoing description is sufficiently detailed as to operation to require no description of the complete operation of the entire apparatus, and I would only state generally, that with the belts 11 passing beneath the reciprocating and rotating cylinder 27, which during its travel in one direction selects a group of labels and during its travel in reverse direction applies the group of labels to the belts, groups of labels may be delivered to the mechanism such as shown inPatent No. 1,433,909 for applying the labels to the articles. It will be understood that the reciprocating movement of the shaft 53 carries with it the non-rotating members 74 and '78, and plates 72 and '72, plate 72 moving the member 65 having the arcuate passage 66 which is always in a predetermined position, whereby the passages 62 successively come into registry and passout of registry with the chamber 66 during the rotation of the cylinder.

;I claim: V 1. In apparatus of the character described, a rotatable picker, means to reciprocate said picker transversely to its axis of rotation, and means to rotate said'picker in the samev direction during its reciprocating movement in both directions.

; 2, Iri apparatus of the character'described, a labellmagazine, a conveyor opposite said magazine, a rotatable label picker, means to reciprocate said picker between said magazine and conveyor, and means to rotate said picker in the same direc tion during its reciprocating movements to bring a predetermined area of the picker in face to face relation with the magazine during one of said reciprocating movements and into face to face relation with the conveyor during its opposite movement.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a label magazine; a conveyor opposite said magazine, a rotatable label picker, means to reciprocate said picker between said magazine and conveyor, means to rotate said picker in the same direction during its reciprocating movements to bring a predetermined area of the picker in face to face relation with the magazine during one of said reciprocating movements and into face to face relation with the conveyor during its opposite movement, and suction means operable by rotation of said picker to create suction when said area is in face to face relation with the magazine to withdraw a label and to break the suction when said area is in face to face relation with the conveyor to release the label.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a

label supply magazine, a label picker rotatably supported in proximity to the magazine, means to reciprocate said picker across said magazine, and means responsive to movements of said picker by said first means to rotate the picker in the same direction during both of its reciprocating movements.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a picker, means to rotate said picker, means to reciprocate said picker transversely to its axis of rotation, and means operable by said rotating means to maintain the direction of rotation of the picker in the same direction during both reciprocating movements.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a picker, means to rotate said picker, means to reciprocate said picker transversely to its axis of rotation, means operable by .said rotating means to maintain the direction of rotation of the picker in the same direction during both reciprocating movements, and means for creating and breaking suctionthrough said picker at predetermined intervals, said means being operable by rotation of said picker and having reciprocating movements therewith.

'7. In apparatus of the character described, a label supply magazine having a plurality of label compartments, a conveyor opposite said compartments and in spaced relation thereto, a label picker rotatably mounted between said magazine and conveyor, said label picker having an arcuate surface with a plurality of spaced members arranged thereon for contact successively with the lowermost label in each compartment, means to reciprocate said picker between said magazine and conveyor, and means to rotate said picker in the same direction during its reciproeating movements to bring said members on said arcuate surface into contact with said lowermost labels successively during one of the reciprocating movements of the picker, and means to establish contact between said conveyor and said members during movement of .said picker in the opposite direction.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a

label supply magazine having a plurality of alined label compartments, a conveyor opposite said compartments and in spaced relation thereto,a label picker rotatably supported between said magazine and conveyor-,said label picker having an arcuate surface with a plurality ofspaced members arranged thereon for contact successively with the outermost label ineach compartment,

means to reciprocate said picker between said magazine and conveyor, and means to rotate said picker in the same directionduring its reciprocating movements to bring said members on said arcuate surface into contact with said lowermost labels successively during one of the reciprocating movements of the picker and into contact with said conveyor during its movement in the opposite direction, each of said members having a suction port, a plurality of passages each communicating with one of said ports, and means operable by rotation of said picker to create suction through said ports and passages successively when said members are respectively in contact with the labels in the magazine and to break the suction when said members are in face to face relation with the conveyor.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a label magazine having a plurality of alined compartments with open ends, a cylinder, a conveyor, upstanding spaced members of a size toenter said open ends of the compartments arranged on an arc of the surface of the cylinder, means to re- 1 ciprocate said cylinder across said magazine, and means to rotate said cylinder in the same direction during both of its reciprocating movements, whereby said members successively enter said compartments during rotation of said cylinder and reciprocating movement thereof in one direction, and successively leave the compartments;

11. In apparatus of the character described, a l label magazine having a plurality of compart-- ments with restricted open bottoms, a conveyor opposite said magazine, a rotatable cylinder between said magazineand conveyor, means to reciprocate said cylinder between said magazine and conveyor transversely to its axis of rotation, means to rotate said cylinder, and means operable by said rotating means to maintain the direc-. tion of rotation of the cylinder in the same direc,-;

tion during both of its reciprocating movements, suction devices arranged on an arc ofthe surface of the cylinder to successively enter said openv ends of the compartments duringone of the reciprocating movements of the cylinder and to successively contact with the conveyor during the other of its reciprocating movements in the op-.-

posite direction.

12.'The structure of claim 11, wherein the suction devices comprise radially projecting members arranged over said are on a surface of the cylinder and each having openings therethrough, a plurality of passages through the cylinder and each communicating with one of said members and openings, and a non-rotating mem-: ber having an arcuate passage is mounted for reciprocating movement with said cylinder, said arcuate passage being disposed for registrywith each of said first passages as the respective mem-,

bers enter the respective label compartments and move to the conveyor.

13. Label selecting and feeding apparatus comprising a travelling conveyor, a magazine fixedlysupported thereabove and havingcompartments each having an opening in its bottom through which labels can be withdrawn, a rotatable cylin-.

der above the conveyor and below the magazine and having a plurality of label carrying faces adapted to be presented successively to the openings and conveyor respectively, means to reciprocate the cylinder along the conveyor and magazine, and means to rotate the cylinder in the same direction during both of its reciprocating movements.

14. Label selecting and feeding apparatus comprising a travelling conveyor, a magazine fixedly supported thereabove and having compartments each having an opening in its bottom through which labels can be withdrawn, a rotatable cylinder above the conveyor and below the magazine and having a plurality of label carrying faces adapted to be presented successively to the openings and conveyor respectively, means to reciprocate the cylinder along the conveyor and magazine and means to rotate the cylinder in the same direction during both of its reciprocating move-' ments, said last means being operable by reciproeating movements of the cylinder.

15. Label selecting and feeding apparatus comprising a travelling conveyor, a magazine fixedly supported thereover and having compartments each having an opening in its bottom through which labels can be withdrawn, a rotatable cylinder above the conveyor and below the magazine and having a plurality of label carrying faces adapted to be presented successively to the openings and conveyor respectively, means to reciprocate the cylinder along the conveyor and magazine, means to rotate the cylinder in the same direction during both of its reciprocating movements, and suction means operable by rotation of said cylinder to cause labels to adhere to said label carrying faces during a predetermined amount of travel of the cylinder.

16. Label selecting and feeding apparatus comprising a travelling conveyor, a magazine fixedly supported thereabove and having compartments each having an opening in its bottom through which labels can be withdrawn, a rotatable cylinder above the conveyor and below the magazine and having a plurality of label carrying faces adapted to be presented successively to the openings and conveyor respectively, means to reciprocate the cylinder along the conveyor and magazine, means to rotate the cylinder in the same di-- rection during both of its reciprocating movements, and means for yieldably urging the conveyor toward the cylinder while the label carrying faces are confronting it.

17. Label selecting and feeding apparatus comprising a label magazine, a cylinder having label carrying faces on an arc of its surface, a shaft connected to said cylinder a pair of uprights supporting said shaft and cylinder therebetween and having longitudinal slots in which the shaft is disposed, crank mechanism, a connection between said crank mechanism and shaft to reciprocate said shaft in said slots and said cylinder along said magazine, a pair of gear wheels mounted on said shaft, a rack meshing with each gear wheel, said racks being so arranged that when the shaft is reciprocated by said crank mechanism the gear wheels are rotated respectively in opposite directions, and ineans operable alternately by rotation of said gear wheels to rotate the shaft and cylinder in the same direction during both of its reciprocating movements.

18. The structure of claim 17 wherein said last means comprises dogs pivotally connected to the gear Wheels for rotation therewith and cam wheels keyed to the shaft for alternate driving engagement with thedogs.

19. In apparatus of the character described, a movable conveyor, a cylinder rotatably supported thereabove, said cylinder having a plurality of spaced label carrying faces arranged in a group on an arc of its surface, a fixed label supply magazine above the cylinder and having a plurality of spaced compartments corresponding to said label carrying faces, air ports in said faces, passages extending through said cylinder and communicating with said ports, means for reciprocating said cylinder along said magazine, means for rotating said cylinder in the same direction during both of its reciprocating movements to bring said faces successively into registry with the compartments during one of said movements and into contact with the conveyor during the opposite movement, a member associated with said cylinder for reciprocating non-rotating movement therewith and having an arcuate passage arranged therein for registry with said first passages during rotation of the cylinder during a predetermined interval of its travel and a solid surface to close said'passages during the remainder of its travel, and a port leading into said arcuate passage for connection with suction apparatus.

JAMES C. THOM.

too 

